2023 Schwarz Wine Co Meta Shiraz, Barossa

A wealth of Acai, blueberries and blackberries baked into a pie. The darker shades of carob, coffee and poppy seed compliment its rich fruit centre. There is some granitic potting soil, sandy tones almost like the gardeners succulent soil mix and a clipped rosemary stem too. Cherry and tart plum liven up the middle palate, acidity is keenly felt, with a swathe of grainy tannins to ensure it will continue to evolve over time. This is layered with good complexity and once again shows the winemaker skill for sinewy texture. Drink now or will cellar for a further 4-5 years. Sticky pork ribs with their chewy glistening bite will set you up for success. Drink to 2030.

93 points Shanteh Wale for Wine Pilot, October 2025

Shiraz sourced from the subregions of Stone Well, Bethany, Light Pass and Hallets Valley; 7% whole bunch, unfined and unfiltered. Dark magenta/crimson with characters of dark plum, black cherry and blackberry fruits with some raspberry high notes and an underlying base of brown spice, dark chocolate, violets, liminal crushed herbs and earth. With a chalky tannin architecture and a black-fruited intensity on the palate, this is great drinking and a solid example of contemporary Barossan shiraz done well. Drink to 2035.

92 points Dave Brookes for Halliday Wine Companion, January 2026

This regional Barossa blend opens with complex aromatics: lots of blue and black fruits tossed with roasted cocoa beans and walnuts before high notes of violets, cloves and flint. Medium- to full-bodied, the textural palate serves generous, savoury layers of fruit, all kept fresh by firm, fine tannins. It feels substantial and yet has a spring to it.

This wine would look great with food that offers some caramelized richness and deep spices, as well as textures for some structural grip. Try with slow-braised beef shin with sour cherries and mature Shanxi vinegar, or charcoal-grilled king oyster mushrooms glazed with garlic and black vinegar.

More about this wine

The Meta wines from Schwarz Wine Co. are regional blends of Barossa fruit. The 2023 season started in La Niña conditions, and the overall cooler temperatures required patience and precision from growers and winemakers alike. The best wines are classically styled, balanced and elegant.

The fruit for the 2023 Meta Shiraz was sourced from six growers across four Barossa sub-regions: Stonewell, Bethany, Light Pass and Hallet Valley. It was fermented in small open-top vessels with a small 7% inclusion of whole bunches and matured for close to a year in French oak puncheons and hogsheads of which 18% were new.

The wine is vegan friendly.

About Schwarz Wine Co

Jason Schwarz is a sixth generation Barossan who grew up surrounded by vines at his parents’ property in Bethany. His own label presents a portfolio of small batch wines that reflect both the vineyard and season they came from.

His winemaking style seeks vibrant and balanced styles through intuition rather than restraining himself with rules or science.